The Verdict is in: Business as Usual

Okay, as I said in yesterday's post, Los Angeles juries are not to swift when it comes to convictions of rogue cops and celebrities. Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Oscar Grant. Again the message it is ok to shoot an unarmed Black man, as long as you are a policeman still whispers loud. Mehserle faces up to four years in prison. Not that stiff a sentence. Now, if I am not mistaken, the sentencing judge can suspend that sentence and give him probation. I am not sure, because I am not a legal expert. However, when it comes to California, nothing surprises me. Only time will tell.

The worse part is that no one is a winner, no matter what the verdict was. Oscar's family will never see him again. His daughter will ultimately never know her father. Johannes Mehserle has to live with what he did. His career in law enforcement is over. He will always be the guy who shot and killed an unarmed man. Should he go to prison, he will have to be placed in protective custody and he will experience the fate of those he himself has previously arrested, during the course of his short career.

Grief? There is more than enough to go around. I don't know, it seems like the only relief the Grant family might get is in Civil Court. Sound familiar? (Think OJ). The only difference is the city of Oakland has to pay. It seems that in all the cases where an unarmed Black man is killed by police officers, the results always seems to be the city throwing money at the festering wounds. I hope they learn one day. To much pain, too much crying, too much dying.

Oakland Waits for Verdict in Oscar Grant Shooting.

It is a recurring theme in today's society. An unarmed Black man dying at the hands of law enforcement. The trial of Johannes Mehserle, a BART police officer, is in the hands of the jury. Seversal months ago videos of the shooting went viral and millions watched as the tragedy occurred. Mehserle's defense is that he accidently drew his service pistol, instead of his taser, which was alledgedly his intention. Well, the incident and the public reaction lead to a change of venue to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles court system does not have a stellar reputation in these matters. It appears that rogue cops and celebreties fail to get convicted there.

With that in mind, it is understandable why merchants in Oakland are in fear of civic unrest. After all, following Grant's funeral, rioting occurred. There have calls for calm and peace from all walks of Oakland life, including Grant's mother. You can believe everyone is anxious, even fearful of what may happen. Again, everyone will be expected to accept the jury's verdict. According to the law, that is what is supposed to happen. Usually, of late, it does. Rioting will not solve anything in a case like this. Unfortunately, in cases like these, you never know what a jury might do. I am not taking sides. I saw the video and unless the defendant is just plain stupid, or easy to panic, I cannot really swallow his story. However, I was not there and some things just do not show up in the video.

My primary question is this: "Is this verdict going to to be lawful and just, or just business as usual?"

Republicans Grant the Appearence of Attacking Deceased Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall During Confirmation Hearings.

How pitiful can the Republican Party be? During the confirmation hearings for President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, some ass of a senator from Arizona began attacking the tenure and performance of Justice Thurgood Marshall. Now correct me if I am wrong, has not this gentlemen been deceased for some time? What does the admiration Elena Kagan for the late Justice have to do with anything? Because Elena Kagan mentioned an admiration for the late Supreme Court Justice, she was raked over the coals, but more preposterous was that fact that the late Justice Marshall was also raked over the coals. Who the hell is being confirmed here? The fact that Ms. Kagan has to endure the BS tells me that racism still has a firm foothold in our society. If the Republican Party wants to become inclusive, attacking Justice Marshall is not the way to go. Even conservative Blacks will not stand for that.

From what happened at these hearings today, it appears that Elena Kagan will be confirmed. The only thing they seem to be able to attack her on is the ban on military recruiters on Harvard's campus and her admiration for Thurgood Marshall. In one article I read it was stated, "Elena Kagan will be confirmed, Thurgood Marshall, not so much."

Confederate History Month

This post will be short and sweet. Virginia declared Confederate History Month a few days ago. The beginning of the Civil War is being celebrated as some kind of great thing. Do not get it twisted! The Confederates were traitors; States Rights equals White Supremacy and Slavery; they became the cowardly KKK; they long for the "good ol' days" when every non-white was at best a second class citizen. Confederate History Month is a slap in the face of equality, promotes bigotry and turns back the hands of time. True the Civil War is a part of history and to glorify the Confederate aspects of it becomes a cruel joke. Supporters of this honoring the Confederacy demonstrate how far we really have come. Unfortunately, it has become plain we have not come far enough.

Some Can't the Forest, Because They're Looking At the Trees

I am gonna make this short and sweet: the Tea Party is comprised of a bunch of racists, bigots and zealots looking for a reason to create havoc and stagnate progress. With the economy being what it is; it is the perfect climate for fostering ignorance, hatred and blaming of the new administration. Where were they when Bush and Cheney where wrecking this country's economy and place in the world?

I am fed up with Sarah Palin, Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh. They have the right to their opinions, no matter how assinine they are. What is scary, they have so many knuckleheads listening to that garbage. They are provocative to the point of some ignorant bigot taking their rhetoric as gospel and going postal on a bunch of innocent people. Funny, they criticize politicians, but they have their own politicians who do the very things they complain about, but for them.

I believe in God as I understand him. They claim to be Christians, but I find it hard to believe. However, we all have things to answer for, come judgememnt day. Glen, Rush and Sarah, see you then!

Tea Party? Racist/ Anti Semetics? You Do the Math 2

Tea Party critics accuse them of bigotry and racism. GUILTY! The public does not get to see the overt racist signs nor the rhetoric on the Tee-shirts. Granted, I do not believe all in that movement are bigots and racists, however, if you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas. I have yet to hear any of the tea party leaders denounce or ask the bigots to demonstrate elsewhere. Their movement, like it or not has become the disguise the bigots needed to promote their messages of hate and intolerance. Unfortunately, our own media bears some of the blame. By the media's refusal to publish the photos of the placards and tee-shirts that spout racist jargon referring to the President, they are as if not more guilty than the party that refuses to address the issue.

The primary excuse the movement claims is that they are protesting fiscal irresponsibility of this administration. Where were they during the past eight years when Bush and Chaney were robbing the American taxpayer blind. They took the Patriot act and turned it into a license to steal. I did not hear of any "Tea Party" then. I believe I heard just the opposite. They protested about Obama's heritage (or what they perceived as Obama's heritage), but no one had anything to say about how the presidency was highjacked twice. As far as I am concerned, no matter how successful the healthcare effort ends up, because it was spearheaded by an administration led by a Black man, there will always be a problem.

That is just plain ignorant!

Tea Party? Racist/ Anti Semetics? You Do the Math

It pains me to see racism and anti-semetism disguised and camoflouged as anti-government patriotism. I keep hearing about so-called patriots protesting healthcare reform and spouting hatred at the same time. It is time someone called this farce what it is..Bigotry, racism, anti-semetism and hatred. They do not care about the healthcare bill. They are just "Good Ol' Boys" that want to set this country back to the "Good Ol' Days". Have you noticed any Blacks or Latinos in any of those crowds of protesters. If so, I wonder if they really believe they can benefit from the madness.

There are probably some people in the "Tea Party" who do not fit that description, however I am afraid their numbers are dwindling. While there are some things I do not like about the government, and the politicians, I do not want to turn back the hands of time and relive the past, where I was afraid of being lynched, because I knew I deserved equal protection under the Constitution. I believe that eventually the ship will right itself, but the enemy is not the politicians....not so much. You have a problem with what is happening to this country, check out the banking system. If you research that, then maybe you will know where to direct your anger.

My message to the Tea party: Do some real research and you will see who to point the finger at. Unfortunately, you have too many ignorant individuals who will not take the time to do the research necessary to find the truth. Oh well time will tell.

Personally, I am getting prepared.............FOR ANYTHING.